Automatic return to a high-definition mode after guide demonstration

ABSTRACT

A high definition television monitor adapted to display a program guide, for example an electronic program guide demonstration, in low definition mode (1H) and automatically switch to high definition mode (2H) upon completion of the program guide display.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to high definitiontelevision systems and methods, and particularly to high definitiontelevisions which are capable of displaying an electronic program guidedemonstration in low definition mode.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Low definition, or standard definition, modes of televisionsystems have a horizontal scanning frequency of 15.734 KHz (1H). Highdefinition is defined as a scanning frequency of nominally 2.14H (2H) orabout 33.6 KHz.

[0003] It is a common practice in a retail setting to display ahigh-resolution source such as a source from a progressive scan 2H DVDplayer on a TV/Monitor capable of displaying either the high-resolutionsource (2H) or the standard resolution source (1H), in order to impresspotential customers with the capability of the television. One exampleof such a television capable of displaying such multiple sources is theRCA model CTC210, marketed by Thomson Multimedia, Inc., of Indianapolis,Ind. The CTC 210 and similar television systems, however, contain inpermanent memory a simulated interactive program guide that can only bedisplayed while the television is in the 1H mode.

[0004] The present inventors recognize that it is desirable to allowpotential customers to run the guide demo since it is a significantfeature. But since the program guide cannot be displayed in non-1Hmodes, there is a need for such televisions to automatically change tothe 1-H mode when the guide demo is requested.

[0005] The present invention relates to automatically returning thetelevision mode to 2H so that it can display the high-resolution source.

[0006] It is common for a customer to start the program guide demo thenwalk away, without manually ending the demo, thereby leaving thetelevision in 1-H mode.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to overcome this problemin the art by automatically returning the television to 2-H mode afterthe program guide demo is completed, without any user intervention.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to make the automatic returnto 2-H mode an optional feature which can be turned on and off by a useror at the factory.

[0009] These objects and others which will become apparent from thefollowing disclosure and the accompanying drawings are achieved by thepresent invention which comprises a television system comprising

[0010] means to display video from a first source in a low definition(1H) mode and to display video from a second source in a high definition(2H) mode;

[0011] means to switch to 1H mode when the first source is selected; and

[0012] means to automatically switch to 2H mode when the first source isdeselected or inactive.

[0013] In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of displayinga low definition (1H) program guide on a high definition televisionmonitor comprising

[0014] receiving a user selection to display a program guide;

[0015] switching to a 1H mode; and

[0016] upon completion of the program guide selection, automaticallyswitching to a 2H mode.

[0017] The preferred first source is an electronic program guide storedin memory, and the preferred second sources are external digital videodisk (DVD) player, a gaming system, or a satellite box.

[0018] The system is preferably programmed to automatically switch to 1Hmode when the demonstration program guide is selected or isautomatically started. The demonstration can be started with a remotecontroller when a customer in a retail setting presses a program guidekey. The television set can include a hardware pin which, when pluggedinto a port on the back of the TV, can trigger the demonstrationwhenever a customer selects program guide with the controller or panelkeys. A software program can automatically start the program guide demoat predetermined times or after elapse of a predetermined time in analternative embodiment.

[0019] The 1H video supplied by the first or other source can beupconverted to 2H using conventional circuitry adapted for that purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a simplified block schematic diagram of a videoapparatus according to the invention.

[0021]FIG. 2 represents a flow chart according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022]FIG. 1 presents a block schematic diagram of a video apparatuswhich can accept various video input signals of either standard or highdefinition with a nominal scanning frequency of 1H or nominally 2H.

[0023] The SD or 1H input signals are processed to enable display at adouble frequency rate. Standard definition signals are input to videoprocessor integrated circuit U1 11, for example Toshiba type TA1286NF,via a selector switch matrix SW 12 which allows user selection fromvarious sources, for example, a demodulated RF or IF signal 13, anexternal Y/C component signal 16 comprising luminance and encodedsubcarrier 14, NTSC encoded signals 15 or Y/Pr/Pb input 14.

[0024] The external composite NTSC signal is initially comb filtered toproduce separated luminance and encoded subcarrier prior to the selectormatrix switch 12. Thus the SD input 17 to video processor U1 11 is inthe form of luminance and encoded subcarrier components known as YC.Video processor U1 11 includes a sync separator SS, and an NTSC decoderand matrix arrangement which decodes and forms color difference signalsfor example R-Y, and B-Y or Pr and Pb. The luminance or Y signal inputis coupled via sync separator SS which provides separated (1H) syncpulses at pin 18 of IC U1 11. The Y signal with sync pulses is output atpin 4 and coupled via an advantageous gated sync pulse stretcher, to anoverlay switch or matrix switch integrated circuit U2, for exampleToshiba type TA1287F.

[0025] Video or program guide information is generated by a Gemstar™circuit module 19 and is coupled 20 as red, green and blue signalstogether with a fast switch signal, (FSW), for processing as an onscreen display (OSD) by overlay switch IC U2 18, prior to up-conversion.The switching or mixed superimposition of the Gemstar™ OSD signals 20 isaccomplished by IC U2 18, which in addition also provides a matrix whichconverts the GemStar™ originated RGB OSD signals 20 to luminance andcolor difference components, for example Y R-Y B-Y, Y Pr Pb, YUV or YIQ.The GemStar module 19 has its own RAM and supplies 1H program guide dataeither from RAM derived from VBI information or a canned demo programguide stored in ROM. In the case where the demonstration data is storedin ROM, when the demonstration is started, if there is no live datapresent in RAM, the demo data gets loaded into RAM from the ROM tosimulate live data. When the demo is exited, the demo data is erasedfrom the RAM.

[0026] The outputs from overlay switch IC U2 18 are coupled via Pr/Pbclamps 22, to a digital decoder, IC U3 23, for example Samsung typeKS0127B. Integrated circuit U3 23 digitizes the luminance and coloringsignals received from overlay switch U2 18 and forms a data stream 24conforming to CCIR standard 656. In this receiver monitor displaysystem, the master source of horizontal 21 and vertical 25 sync signalsis chosen to be sync signals extracted from the luminance signal inputto digital decoder U3 23.

[0027] The digitized component signal bit stream (Bs) is coupled to ade-interlacer system comprising a de-interlacing integrated circuit U426, for example Genesis Micro type gmVLX1A-X, and a film mode controllerIC U6 27, for example Genesis Micro type gmAFMC. Integrated circuit U627 is controlled by and communicates with chassis controller U8 38 viathe I²C bus 28, however communication between IC U4 26 and IC U6 27 isvia a separate data bus 29. De-interlacing is initiated within IC U4 26which examines the incoming component video data stream to determine thebest method for constructing interpolated lines prior to storing eachfield in a 32 bit SGRAM memory IC U5 30, for example AMIC type A45L9332.If motion is not detected, the system repeats information from theprevious field to provide a complete frame of non-moving video. However,if motion is detected, vertical/temporal filtering is applied usinglines and fields around the interpolated line to provide an interpolatedsignal essentially free of motion artifacts. Film mode controller IC, U627 detects the presence of video signals which originated from 24 Hzfilm by monitoring motion artifacts for the presence of a cyclicalvariation occurring at a 5 field rate. This 5 field repetition rateresults from a so called 3:2 pull-down telecine process used to producea nominal display rate of 60 Hz by the cyclical duplication ofindividual fields. Thus, having detected film original material theinterpolated signal can be assembled with temporally correct lines froma previous field.

[0028] The resulting 2H scan rate digital video, in the form of three 8bit data streams (Y 31, Pr 32 and Pb 33) are output from de-interlacingIC U4 26 and coupled for digital to analog conversion and analog signalprocessing prior to subsequent display. The D-to-A processing isperformed by, for example, by U10 34, an Analog Devices ADV7123 IC. Theanalog output of this IC is then further processed by a back-end videoprocessor 35 which produce RGB outputs 36 to be displayed on a displaydevice 21.

[0029] A 2-H or high resolution source may be inputted to the presentsystem via for example, the Y/Pr/Pb input 14 connected to the matrixswitch. If the system is then put into the 2-H mode, this matrix switch12 will cause the signal to be routed 37 to the video processor 35 to beprocessed directly, without the up conversion previously described.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows a flow chart exemplifying the present invention. Theroutine is entered at step 200. As shown in Step 201, this feature maybe set as default (i.e., on or off) either at the factory or by a user.If this feature is set to on 202, the chassis controller will firstdetermine 204 if a selection has been made to activate the guide demo.At step 205, if this selection has been made, the controller willautomatically switch the system to 1H mode and start to show the guidedemo which has been previously stored in the system. The controller willthen determine if the demo has finished or has been terminated by auser, at step 210. If either of these is the case, then the controllerwill switch the system automatically to a high resolution or a highdefinition mode, as shown in step 215. The routine is exited by 220.

[0031] A preferred embodiment is a high definition television monitorwhich includes a GemStar electronic program guide module 19 having aprogram guide demonstration burned into ROM which is designed to displaya program guide having canned data to prospective customers uponpressing a program guide key on a remote control unit while thetelevision monitor is in demo mode. The television monitor is programmedto automatically display a source of 2H signal, preferably from a 2H DVDplayer when the 1H program guide is not selected.

[0032] Upon selection of the 1H program guide, the television monitorswitches to 1H mode until the prospective customer reselects a source of2H signal such as the DVD player or until the program guide demo iscompleted, or until a predetermined time period has expired at whichpoint the television monitor resumes 2H mode. The guide softwarepreferably sends an end of demo signal to the television software whichin turn switches the sources back to the 2H input.

[0033] The demo can be of various types. For example, it can be acontinuous demo which is activated using either the remote controller orfront panel keys to select the appropriate menu item. Alternatively, itcan be triggered by the presence of a hardware pin plugged into a portin the back of the television set which causes the demo to startautomatically when the customer in the retail setting presses theelectronic program guide key, i.e., the same program guide key as isused in a normal at home setting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A television system comprising means to displayvideo from a first source in a low definition (1H) mode and to displayvideo from a second source in a high definition (2H) mode; means toswitch to 1H mode when the first source is selected; and means toautomatically switch to 2H mode when the first source is deselected orinactive.
 2. The television system of claim 1 wherein the first sourceis an electronic program guide demonstration stored in memory.
 3. Thetelevision system of claim 1 wherein the second source is an externaldigital video disk (DVD) player, a gaming system, or a satellite box. 4.The television system of claim 1 wherein the means to switch to 1H modecomprises means to select a program guide demonstration.
 5. Thetelevision system of claim 1 wherein the means to switch to 1H modecomprises a remote controller with a program guide demonstration switch,a key or combination of keys on a front panel, or a software programwhich automatically starts the program guide demonstration after apredetermined period of time has passed after a previous demonstration.6. The television system of claim 1 wherein the means to automaticallyswitch to 2H mode is a controller which is programmed to switch to 2H ifthe first source is finished or has exceeded a predetermined timeoutperiod.
 7. The television system of claim 1 comprising means toupconvert 1H video supplied by the first source to 2H.
 8. A method ofdisplaying a low definition (1H) program guide on a high definitiontelevision monitor comprising receiving a user selection to display aprogram guide; switching to a 1H mode; and upon completion of theprogram guide selection, automatically switching to a 2H mode.
 9. Themethod of claim 8 wherein the program guide is a user selectabledemonstration which is digitally encoded and stored.
 10. The method ofclaim 8 wherein video from a digital video disk (DVD) player, asatellite box, or a gaming system is processed and displayed when thetelevision monitor is switched to 2H mode.
 11. The method of claim 8comprising switching to 2H mode when the program guide is unselected bythe user or when a predetermined time elapses or predetermined period ofinactivity occurs.
 12. The method of claim 8 wherein the source of 2H isa high definition television tuner.
 13. The method of claim 8 whereinthe program guide is a user selectable demonstration which is digitallyencoded and stored and does not comprise live data obtained via a videoblanking interval (VBI).
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein a 1H videosignal is upconverted to 2H and displayed in high resolution.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the 1H program guide is overlayed on the 1Hvideo signal and then upconverted to 2H.